The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Post Correspondent
A SCHOOL clerk at Manzvire Secondary School in Chipinge District wept uncontrollably in court last Wednesday after she was jailed 14 months for stealing $951 from the school.
Moreen Muyambo Mashapa (50), who was employed as a school clerk at Manzvire Secondary School appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Sharon Chipanga, facing theft charges as defined in Section 113 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
She pleaded guilty to all 18 counts of theft.
Asked by the magistrate why she abused her office to convert the money into her personal use, Mashapa said she used part of the money to meet funeral expenses for her relatives who perished in a road accident.
“Your Worship, please don’t send me to jail because I have a big extended family to look after. I am admitting to have committed the offence and I am pleading with you to forgive me since I have reimbursed part of the money.
“I used the money to cover funeral expenses for my late relatives who perished in an accident which involved an ethanol truck some time ago,” said Mashapa.
Prosecuting, Mr Regis Mawarire, said from February 2014 to January 2016, Mashapa who was employed as a school clerk at Manzvire Secondary School received cash from students as school fees.
“After receiving the money, Mashapa receipted original receipts to the students and made a misinterpretation on the duplicate receipts on the school schedule,” he said.
Mr Mawarire said on January 2016, a routine audit was conducted by Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education auditors where the offence was discovered.
“The total value of the money stolen was $951. Police recovered the original receipts issued to students and duplicates from the school accounts,” said Mr Mawarire.
In sentencing her magistrate, Mrs Chipanga said Mashapa had committed a serious offence which deserved a custodial sentence.
“Cases of fraud in schools are on the rise, hence the courts will not fold its hands when these cases are increasing. The accused has paid back the money through instalments, but what is aggravating is that the accused stole public funds and a custodial sentence is only an option to deter would be offenders,” said Mrs Chipanga.
Mashapa was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and seven months were side aside on condition that she had managed to refund the stolen money.
This did not go well with Mashapa who wept uncontrollably in court as she continued raising her hand begging for community service.
